The past continuous is used in this example of reported speech, because it is the equivalent of the direct statement, 'I'm not coming' with its future meaning. The simple present does not have this future meaning and would not be understood as natural English.

The person might have said, 'I won't come', but then your sentence would have to be, "I waited ages for you - you could have said that you wouldn't come!"

Using the simple past would not make any sense.I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. (Anon)

The past continuous is used in this example of reported speech, because it is the equivalent of the direct statement, 'I'm not coming' with its future meaning. The simple present does not have this future meaning and would not be understood as natural English.

The person might have said, 'I won't come', but then your sentence would have to be, "I waited ages for you - you could have said that you wouldn't come!"

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